Coin collector



. Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,239

W. H. EDWARDS ET AL I COIN COLLECTOR Filed June 9, 1926 Path m/Gel I Path o/flL'n/w Path. o/Qmv'zfl' mgz'dmmm. 5. ZZwker MTORNEY Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. EDWARDS, OE BROOKLYN, AND REXFORD S. TUCKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNORS T0 AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, CORPORA- TION' OF NEW YORK.

Application I filed June 9,

Our invention relates to coin collectors, and more particularly to coin collectors having coin operable signal sounding devices, such as the coin collector forming a part of the ordinary telephone pay station.

Coin collectors of this type are usually designed to receive a plurality of coins of different denominations or sizes, and provision must be made for the production of signals readily distinguishable one from another. Furthermore, the signals produced must be suitable for transmission over wires. Again, the signal producers must be such that they cannot beoperat-ed fraudulently, for instance, by. pounding on the side of the coin collector box. i

The object of our invention is to provide a coin collector of the type described above, which will combine the advantages of the above-named features with that of compactness.

Our invention will be clearly understood whe'nthe following'detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawing. This description coversthe preferred embodiment of our inventive ideas.

Slots 1, 2 and 3 are designed to receive coins of different denominations and sizes, for instance, nickels, dimes'and quarters, respectively. l/Veprovide as signal producers the gong 4-, which is preferably of thefbell type, as distinguished from the cathedral type, and the gong 5, which is preferably of the same type as the gong 4-. The gongs t and 5 should be of such sizes and construction as toproduce pitches suitable for trans mission over the wires, differing slightly one from another. In other words, there are produced signals of two pitches, differing only slightly. The bell type of gong 1s desirable, because it. cannot be fraudulently operated by a blow on the side of the collector boX. V

Leading from the slots 1, 2 and 3, respectively, are coin channels 6, 7 and 8, and a suitable receptacle 9 is provided to recelve the coins from any. one of the channels after the sounding of the gong or gongs. The channel 6 is so formed and positioned that a nickel dropped in the slot 1 will strike the lower portion of the rim of gong 4, and will then pass into the receptacle 9. The channel 7 carries a dime dropped in slot-2 against the upper'portion of the rim of gong at, then COIN COLLECTOR.

1926. Serial No. 114,778.

away from the gong and then against the lower portion of the rim. There is thus produced a double signal of the pitch corre sponding to the'gong 4. The channel 8 carr es a quarter dropped in slot 3 against the run of the gong 5 and then across the box to strike the lower portion of the rim of the gong 4:.

Thus, by means of two gongs, neither of which can be operated fraudulently, and by means of the arrangement of coin channels described above, there are produced three s1gnals which are suitablefor transmission over wires and are readily distinguishable one from another by the central oflice operator.

For the sake of clarity of description, the path of a nickel dropped in the slot 1 is indicated in the drawing by a dotted line; the path of a dime dropped in slot 2 is'indicated by a broken line; and the path of a quarter dropped in slot 3 is indicated by a mixed line. I

We claim:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of signal sounding devices, and a plurality of coin channels associated therewith, one of said channels being positioned and formed to direct a coin inserted therein against one'portion of a given signal sounding device, a second channel being positioned and formed to direct a coin inserted therein against one portion of the same signal soundingdevice, then awayfrom said device, and then against a second portion thereof, and a third channel being positioned and formed to direct a coin inserted therein against another of the signal sounding devices and then against the said given signal sounding device.

2; In an apparatus of the class described,

- a plurality of coin operable signal sounding devices, and a plurality of coin channels associated therewith, one of said channels be' ing positioned and formed to direct a coin inserted therein against one portion of a given signal sounding device, a second channel being positioned and formed to direct a coin inserted therein against one portion of the same signal sounding device, then away from said device,and then against a second portion thereof, and a third channel being positioned'and formed to direct a coin inserted therein against another of the signal sounding devices and then against the said given signal sounding device.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of signal sounding devices designed to produce signals diiiering one from another, and a plurality'of coin channels associated therewith, one of said channels being positioned and formed to direct a coin inserted therein against one portion of a given signal sounding device, a second channel being positioned and formed to direct a coin inserted therein against one portion of the same signal sounding device, then away troni'said device, and then against a second portion thereof, and a third channel being positioned and formed to direct a coin inserted therein against another of the signal sounding devices and then against the said given signal sounding device.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of signal sounding devices, and a plurality of coin channels associated therewith and designed to receive coins difiering in size, one of said channels being positioned and formed to direct a coin inserted therein against one portion of a given signal sounding device, a second channel being positioned and formed to direct a coin inserted therein against one portion of the same signal sounding device, then away from said device, and then against a second portion thereof, and a third channel being positioned and formed to direct a coin inserted therein against another of the signal sounding devices and then against the said given signal sounding device.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of signal sounding devices, and a plurality of coin channels associated there with, one of said channels being positioned and formed to direct a coin inserted therein against one portion of a given signal sounding device, a second channel being positioned and formed to direct a coin inserted therein against two portions of said signal sounding device with a noticeable intervening period of time, and a third channel being positioned and formed to direct a coin inserted therein against another of the signal sounding devices and then against the said given signal sounding device.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, two signal sounding devices, and three coin channels associated therewith, said channels being so formed and so positioned with respect to said signal sounding devices that a coin inserted in a given one of said channels will be directed against one portion of a given one of said signal sounding devices, a coin inserted in a second channel will be directed against one portion of the same signal sounding device, then away from said device, and then against a second portion thereof, and a coin inserted in the third channel will be directed against the second signal sounddevices that a coin inserted in a given one of said channels will be directedagainst one portion of a given one of said signal sounding devices, a coin inserted in a second channel will be directed against one portionof the same signal sounding device, then away from said device, and then against a second portion thereof, and a coin inserted in the third channel will be directed against the second signal sounding device, and then against the first signal sounding device.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, two signal sounding devices designed to produce signals differing one from another in pitch, and three coin channels associated therewith, said channels being so formed and so positioned with respect to said signal sounding devices that a coin inserted in a given one of said channels will be directed against one portion of a given'one of said signal sounding devices, a coin inserted in a second channel will be directed against one portion of the same signal sounding device, then away from said device, and then against a second portion thereof, and a coin inserted in the third channel will be directed against the second signal sounding device, and then against the first signal sounding device.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, two signal sounding devices, and three coin channels associated therewith and designed to receive coins differing in size, said chan nels being so formed and so positioned with respect to said signal sounding devices that a coin inserted in a given one of said channels will be directed against one portion of a given one of said signal sounding devices, a

coin inserted in a second channel will be directed against one portion of the same coin inserted in a given one of said channels will be directed against one portion of a given one of said signal sounding devices, a coin inserted in a second channel will be directed against two portions of the said signal sounding device with a noticeable intervening period of time, and a coin inserted in the third channel will be directed against the second signal sounding device and then against the first signal sounding device.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of signal sounding devices, and a plurality of coin channels associated therewith, one of said channels being positioned and formed to direct a coin inserted therein against one portion of a given signalsound ing device, a second channel being positioned and formed to direct a coin inserted therein against two portions of said signal sounding device with a noticeable intervening period of time, and a third channelbeing positioned and formed to direct a coin inserted therein against one portion of said signal sounding device and one portion of another of the signal sounding devices.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, 7

two signal sounding devices, and three coin channels associated therewith, said channels being so formed and so positioned with respect to said signal sounding devices that a coin inserted in a given one of said channels will be directed against one portion of a given one of said signal sounding devices, a coin inserted in a second channel will be di rected against two portions of the said signal sounding devicev with a noticeable intervening period of time, and a coin inserted in the third channel will be directed against one portion of'each of said signal sounding devices.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification this 8th day of "June, 1926.

WILLIAM H. EDWARDS. REXFORD S. TUCKER. 

